According to State Climatologist, Gary McManus, heavy rains across eastern Oklahoma yielded some good changes, but most of the southwestern half of the state was dealt a dry hand, and the same for north central Oklahoma. The area of extreme (D3) drought in southern Oklahoma continues to spread.

“Unfortunately, we’re not seeing big rains coming, but more of those convective type of storms that leave a lot of folks wanting,” McManus said. “We see increased odds of above normal precipitation, but ‘normal’ for this time of year is getting smaller and smaller.”

According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor, exceptional drought remains at zero percent, unchanged from the past month.

Extreme drought or worse is unchanged from last week, remaining at 12.91 percent.

Severe drought or worse is now at 30.93 percent, improved from last week’s 34.6 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 46.76 percent, improved from last week’s 48.72 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 65.71 percent, improved from last week’s 71.55 percent.

To see this week's drought numbers for Oklahoma, click the map above the story.

Across our Region- there's very slight improvement in Drought Monitor numbers- Texas is seeing severe drought or worse drop to 59.6% this week versus 61.3% a week ago. That same level of drought- D2 (Severe Drought) is now at 45.5% in Kansas versus 47.04 a week ago and in Missouri- Moderate drought or worse (D1) is flat 54.8%- versus 54.6% a week ago. Louisiana remains in some of the worse conditions in the US- Severe drought or worse is at 97.2% versus 97.6% a week ago.



Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come. Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma. 



OSU’s Amy Hagerman on Expiring Farm Bill, Possible Government Shutdown, and Impacts on Producers

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, is visiting with associate professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Amy Hagerman, about the possible government shutdown this weekend, program deadlines, Farm Bill, and more.

“When we reach the end of the fiscal year for the federal government, and that is September 30th, that Saturday, we need to have either a budget or some kind of continuing resolution to keep the government offices and functions open going forward into those future weeks,” Hagerman said.

This possible shutdown has different implications, Hagerman said, including for those in the agriculture industry.

“For us in agriculture, we are thinking about our USDA local offices and whether they will be open, whether we can do business with them during that time period, and October is a really important month,” Hagerman said.

Also, this weekend, on September 30th, the Farm Bill will expire. In the short term, if the Farm Bill does expire, Hagerman said not much will happen.

“We are in the middle of crop years, and we already have budget and programs that will continue through the end of this crop year,” Hagerman said. 

Jarold Callahan says Angus Producers Have Earned Popularity for the Breed Through Hard Work

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking with the President of Express Ranches, Jarold Callahan, about the success of the Angus breed and the potential of the seedstock industry.

Express Ranches has won the Roll of Victory Show Breeder of the Year Award for multiple years. In fact, Express Ranches has won this award for 12 consecutive years.

Callahan said the Angus breed plays a dominant role in the purebred scene, much of which is related to the success of Certified Angus Beef.

“Certified Angus Beef has added a lot of value to Angus-sired calves,” Callahan said. “There is no doubt about that. In the marketplace, when you are selling those weaned calves or selling those yearlings, or you are selling out of the feed yard, it has certainly added some value.”

The Angus breed has enjoyed popularity because of work on the maternal side, Callahan said, as well as the terminal side in terms of adding carcass characteristics.

The Angus breed’s place in the top of the market, Callahan said, has been earned through years of hard work.

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about the latest commodity prices and various factors impacting the markets.

Starting with wheat prices, Anderson said they have been slowly moving down over the last two or three weeks. Now, Anderson said wheat prices are at $6.40 to $6.45.

In southern Oklahoma, Anderson said wheat prices are around $6.15.

“We have seen wheat prices inching their way lower, and I am concerned that they have broken a support level, and they may go further down,” Anderson said.

About 18 percent of Oklahoma’s winter wheat crop is in the ground, Anderson said, and forward contracting prices in the state are ranging from $6.30 and $6.45.

Oklahoma Rancher Leads Charge to Beef Up the Blood Supply

For many years, the Oklahoma Beef Council has partnered with Our Blood Institute to reward anyone who donates blood before the Labor Day weekend. This year’s blood drive happened on August 31 and September 1. Over that two-day timeframe 1,236 people donated blood, saving 3,708 lives.

One of the donors was Erick Chandler, longtime member of a ranching family from Ninnekah, Oklahoma. In October 2019, Chandler needed blood after a horse accident caused severe damage to his femoral artery. On the medi-flight from the ranch to Oklahoma City, Chandler received 5 units of blood. If those units would not have been available, he would not have even made it to a hospital that could repair his injury. Over the course of his recovery, Chandler received 23 units of blood.

It ultimately took seven surgeries and one year for Chandler to fully recovered. As soon as he was cleared to do so, Chandler began donating blood through Our Blood Institute in Lawton. He has now donated more than 20 times.

OKFB Foundation for Agriculture awards 10 mini grants

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has awarded ten organizations around the state with grants through the foundation’s mini grant program. The $500 grants are awarded to county Farm Bureaus, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters and classroom teachers to fund projects that enhance agricultural literacy in Oklahoma.

The grants are awarded through an application process, in which interested groups, organizations and individuals list their educational project, goals and objectives.

The foundation’s mini grants are awarded in two cycles, with the first cycle grants issued in March and the second cycle issued in September.

For example- the Strother FFA Chapter is receiving a grant this fall for Bee Hotels while Holdenville 4-H is working on a sheep learning lab.

For more information on the foundation’s grant programs, visit the OKFB Foundation for Agriculture website.

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